Mishra is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
If a creature you control would deal damage, it deals double that damage instead.
Complete guide
Mishra is a Vanguard card that fundamentally alters the lethality of your battlefield by doubling all damage dealt by your creatures. Unlike standard cards, this Vanguard avatar sits in your command zone, providing a constant replacement effect that turns every minor skirmish into a potential game-ending strike. It is a simple yet devastating tool for aggressive strategies.
Doubling the Impact
Mishra provides a replacement effect that modifies damage events. Any time a creature you control would deal damage—whether it is combat damage, a triggered ability, or an activated ability—it deals exactly twice that amount instead. This applies to damage dealt to players, planeswalkers, and other creatures.
Resolution and Timing
When a creature you control deals damage, the game checks for replacement effects. Mishra's ability applies immediately as the damage is being dealt; it does not use the stack and cannot be responded to once the damage event begins. If multiple damage-doubling effects exist, the player being dealt damage or the controller of the permanent being dealt damage chooses the order in which to apply them.
Combat vs. Non-Combat Damage
A common mistake is assuming Mishra only affects combat. However, the Oracle text specifies 'if a creature you control would deal damage,' which includes non-combat damage from abilities. Note that this effect only doubles damage, not life loss. Effects that cause a player to lose life without using the word 'damage' will not be modified by Mishra.
When to Utilize Mishra
Mishra is most effective in decks that focus on high-power creatures or creatures with 'ping' abilities. Because it effectively halves the number of turns required to defeat an opponent through combat, it excels in aggressive formats where you can protect your board state while forcing unfavorable blocks for your opponents.
Interaction examples
Sol RingDuring your combat phase, Mishra, Eminent One creates a 4/4 token copy of Sol Ring named Mishra's Warform. When this 4/4 token attacks and connects with an opponent, Mishra's Vanguard ability replaces the 4 damage with 8 damage. Even though the original artifact was a non-creature, the token is a creature, so the doubling applies.
When Mishra, Lost to Phyrexia attacks, you may choose the option to deal 3 damage to any target. Because Mishra, Lost to Phyrexia is a creature, the Vanguard effect sees this damage event and doubles it, resulting in 6 damage to the chosen target instead of 3.
Mishra, Claimed by Gix has an ability where opponents lose X life based on the number of attacking creatures. Since this is life loss and not damage, Mishra's Vanguard ability does NOT double this value. However, the physical combat damage Mishra deals later in the turn will still be doubled.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Mishra
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
No additional ruling has been published for this card.
Interactions with other cards
These cards' text mentions Mishra.
Whenever you attack, each opponent loses X life and you gain X life, where X is the number of attacking creatures. If Mishra, Claimed by Gix and a creature named Phyrexian Dragon Engine are attacking, and you both own and control them, exile them, then meld them into Mishra, Lost to Phyrexia. It enters tapped and attacking.
At the beginning of combat on your turn, create a token that's a copy of target noncreature artifact you control, except its name is Mishra's Warform and it's a 4/4 Construct artifact creature in addition to its other types. It gains haste until end of turn. Sacrifice it at the beginning of the next end step.
When Foundry Groundbreaker enters, sacrifice a land. Then conjure two cards named Mishra's Foundry onto the battlefield tapped.
Whenever Mishra enters or attacks, choose three — • Target opponent discards two cards. • Mishra deals 3 damage to any target. • Destroy target artifact or planeswalker. • Creatures you control gain menace and trample until end of turn. • Creatures you don't control get -1/-1 until end of turn. • Create two tapped Powerstone tokens.
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Meta decks with Mishra
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.